Bent lower shock-absorber mount (rear)

[Pilo]

Last night I rode my 2009 SE5 over a street manhole without cover in a dark area of the street (not unusual in this country...)

When I saw it it, I swerved and I went over it in between the front wheels, but it was too late to avoid the rear wheel from taking the brunt hit.

Needless to say, I almost got high-sided off the Spyder, and hanged on for dear life...

The rear tire went flat in about 30 seconds, giving me enough time to stop at the curb.

Today I removed the rear wheel to assess damage. The tire got a bad cut at its shoulder (side), rendering it useless, and the rim is only slightly bent at its edge.

On closer inspection, I found the rear shock absorber lower mounting point (welded at the rear swing-arm) damaged and bent.

The mounting plates seem flimsy, so I would like to repair those and beef them up with thicker plates.

My question / doubt is how to do the welding job without disturbing / damaging all the computer components, sensors, and electronic paraphernalia, hopefully without removing the swing-arm from the frame.

Any educated ideas / suggestions...?

Shock Absorber .jpg

[Lamonster]

If it were me I would disconnect the battery and make sure you have your ground as close to the weld area as possible. I've welded rear and front fender mounts on Spyders with no ill effect.

[cuznjohn]

as the owner i would replace the swing arm, like lamont said you could weld it but i don't have the skills to do it and a new swing arm is about 400 dollars american so that is the way i would go if i did it myself. would your insurance cover it, thats another way to go

[Chupaca]

to disconnect your battery, and like Lamont stated, clamp ground cable from welder as close as possible to the area you are welding. Good welding shop or speed shop can do this for you and beef it up at the same time. glad you were able to safely get out off the road and were uninjured...

[RBS66]

Wow!!!! I'm glad you weren't injured. Good luck with getting your bike repaired.

[BajaRon]

Wow!!!! I'm glad you weren't injured. Good luck with getting your bike repaired.

Consider how this would have gone had you been on 2 wheels!

[cuznjohn]

i am not a mechanic but i would worry about the bike tracking right, that's why i would replace the swing arm.

[capt.jim]

Better the back than one of the front tires!